Murizal Hamzah – More than a week after the author of the controversial book "Lumpur Lapindo File: Konspirasi SBY-Bakrie" ("The Lapindo Mud File: SBY-Bakrie Conspiracy"), Ali Azhar Akbar, was last seen in public, the writer's whereabouts remain unknown.

He was last seen at the Constitutional Court in Jakarta on June 19, after filing a judicial review of Article 18 of the 2012 State Budget, which allows the government to use state funds to cover damages and compensation related to the 2006 Lapindo mudflow disaster.

"As of today, Ali Azhar's whereabouts remain unknown," Tjut Sukiadi, a close friend of Ali, told BeritaSatu.com on Wednesday. He said Ali's family and friends had made numerous attempts to find him, all of which had proved futile.

"Yesterday, [Ali's] lawyer M. Taufik Budiman asked the National Police to protect Ali and his family," Tjut added. He again denied speculation that Ali's disappearance was a publicity stunt for his books.

Ali has written two books related to the Lapindo mudflow disaster in Sidoarjo, East Java. The first one provided background information on the events related to the disaster, while the second book was about an alleged conspiracy between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie, whose family owns oil and gas company Lapindo Brantas. The firm is widely blamed for triggering the Sidoarjo mud volcano that erupted in 2006, displacing thousands of families.

Bakrie is considered a strong contender in the 2014 presidential election. (BeritaSatu/JG)